Cloudy with a chance of reincarnation

Falling.

I assume most would be screaming and praying to whatever god would listen, but I felt at peace as the wind rushed passed me. Looking above me at the burning plane that continued its course towards my left I smiled faintly. They may have got me, but I also got those bastards too.

Now clouds were all around me and I felt cold water droplets sting my skin as I fell through the cloud. I always imagined clouds like most people I would guess. Fluffy, soft. Perhaps that doesn't really sound like thoughts an assassin would have but don't think I'm much different than the average person.

We all go through life searching for something we're good at or like and hopefully do it until we die. Though I may have taken that a little too literally, actually dying on the job. I sprinkled in extra curriculars between jobs as well; such as anime, video games, books and the like.

I trended towards the swords and sorcery/ isekai genres as while I enjoyed my life as an assassin it's still a rather lonely life. 21st century doesn't look too kindly on people that walk around with swords or knives. I just always felt like I was born too late, as if I should have been around for the sword fighting days.

Sure I wouldn't have been able to enjoy the anime that I have, but I would have acclimated to the world much better than my current one. After all you can't exactly tell just anyone that you're an assassin, even if you're one of the best. Well used to be one of the best.

My eyes began to grow heavy and I allowed them to close as I slowly lost sight of the clouds above. Darkness overtook me and the only thing I thought or rather hoped, I repeated like a mantra.

'Please let me be reincarnated into a world that I can put my skills to good use. A world of sword fighting or some such.'

I awoke before my eyes opened, a skill I gained through my years as an assassin. Deception is up there in skills needed by professional assassins and this skill has, more times than i care to admit, saved me from an early death. Surprisingly or perhaps not people are strangely prideful when they think they have succeeded against someone better or stronger than them. They take time to gloat or even take pictures before completing their objective and it has cost them their lives every time with me.

However that wasn't the case this time. Rather I felt no malicious presences, only the comforting warmth of the rays of sunlight.. Thick grass and cushioning soil made up my sleeping area I noted as I opened my eyes. Squinting as the sunlight pierced my eyes, I sat up letting my bangs fall across my face.

Looking down I noticed that I was no longer in my usual clothes and instead wearing what I recognized to be a Jinbei. A soft short sleeved robe like top and a pair of loose fitting breezy pants that came down to my calves. Both had a light blue color with pure white clouds adorned them in no particular pattern. I noticed I had no shoes but with the warm temperature I disregarded it as I found something that I instantly grabbed.

"A Tsurugi?" A sheath fashioned in a similar pattern as my clothing rested beside me reaching roughly 3 and a half feet long (~106cm). I swapped from sitting on the ground to a seated kneel as I grabbed the sword gently. And pulled the blade slowly from the sheath. It's shiny silver colored metal hummed as it slid against the inner lining. My thought was confirmed as a double edged straight blade emerged from the sheath. The hilt feeling like a perfect fit for my hand as I felt the corded braids wrapped around the wood of the handle form to my hand.

The same clouds from the sheath seemed to be worked into the metal of the blade in a show of craftsmanship I had never seen before. The clouds seemingly rippling as the sun dance across the blade. Once the blade completely came free and small roll of paper dropped to the ground. Taking one last look at the blade I reluctantly returned it to where it came from and read the paper that had fallen from the sheath.

At the top read

Wielder of "Ame-no-Murakumo-no-Tsurugi" or "Heavenly Sword of Gathering Clouds". You have been chosen to inherit this blade due to the strength of you wish and will. Born too late, I've decided to give you a second chance at life as my sword and successor.

This world is over run with demons that posses mystical powers, and their only foe is a small group of humans known has "Demon Slayers". The group has dwindled in the recent years as demons do not age as humans do and the life of a demon slayer is much shorter than even the average human.

As repayment for your new life you will wage war against these demons and lead the world out of the fear they are forced to live in.

Live well and fight strong my successor.

-Yamato Takeru

"I guess I don't have much choice. Though I can't say I'm disappointed in this objective." I smiled as the paper began to fade, allowing me to take up the legendary sword "Ame-no-Murakumo-no Tsurugi." As someone enamored by Japanese lord I of course had heard of this blade. Though it was more commonly known as "Kusanagi-no-Tsurugi" or "Grass-Cutting Sword" it had indeed went by the other name before.

Sensing something nearby I relaxed my entire body as I spun on one knee, sliding the sword from its sheath as I turned. I leveled the blade straight forward enjoying the weight and balance of the blade in my hand as a figure emerged from the dense foliage of the trees. An elderly woman maybe in her mid to late 70 walked out from the trees carrying a basket in one hand and a walking stick in the other.

Her eyes widened briefly when she noticed me with my sword drawn before raising one eyebrow at me.

"I haven't gone 73 years in my family's territory to get killed by a boy flailing a knife around." I cocked my head to side as I observed the old woman. She definitely didn't seem poor even by the standards of my past life, wearing a well tailored kimono that was a deep purple reaching her ankles where like me she wore no shoes.

"Well boy are you going to put that sword away and help this old woman home, or are you just going to sit there." I could only sigh at her words as i sheathed the sword and rose to my full height which was only a head taller than the old woman, around 6 foot. I found a loop on my pants that perfectly fit the sheath of my sword and slid it in as I adjusted my clothes.

She seemed to appraise me as well before nodding.

"Perhaps I was too quick to call you a boy flailing a knife around, you seem to hold yourself as well as any dem- er swordsman I've seen." I raised an eyebrow at her slip of the tongue.

"Were you going to say Demon Slayer? Do you know of any?" Her eyes widened before hesitantly nodding and revealing a Wisteria Tree tattoo on her forearm.

"Since you seem to know of them already I see no problem in telling you. My family has supported generations of Demon Slayers with places to rest and medical treatment. We are the Kazuki family and I'm the current Matriarch, Kazuki Hikari. What is your name young man?" Her answer only further confirmed what I had gathered from the slip of paper. I was in the anime world of Demon Slayer. A world where humans fought demons by using breathing techniques to enhance their bodies and their sword fighting.

The only problem however was that I couldn't remember my name. It was as if it had been scrubbed from my memory and I was left scrambling, until I caught sight of the scabbard of my sword and subsequently the pattern on my clothes and I found a name.

"Seiun. No family name." I said confidently as she nodded approvingly and began to walk in the direction she had emerged from.

"Follow me then, Seiun."

/-/-/-/-/-/

End chapter.

Doubtful this will be updated regularly, but it's an idea I've had in my head for a while. Not that it's a particularly good one or unique, but I felt like putting it out there. I don't really care for this to end up on the ranking so I'm not going to do like some authors and put a "word count" page.

If this story continues then it will grow eventually if it's good enough ( not that I think it will be). As I'm really only writing this to satisfy my random urge to write and I like using fanfics to help me practice in case I ever decide to write an original book.

Anyways I hope you enjoy whatever does get written.

Peace!

Also "Seiun" means Blue Cloud